Go! And… Refresh Others - Proverbs 11:25 Series

Go! And… Refresh Others - Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

INTRODUCTION — A THIRSTY WORLD NEEDS A REFRESHED CHURCH

Church, every generation tries to satisfy its thirst in different ways.

Some chase success, others chase comfort, entertainment, money, or relationships.

But the world is spiritually dehydrated because it has cut itself off from the Fountain—the Lord Himself.

And in a spiritually thirsty world, God calls His people to be a refreshing presence.

This is not only a command; it is a calling. It is not only a blessing to others; it is a blessing to the one who obeys.

Today’s message is simple:

If you want to be refreshed, you must become a refresher.

If you want to walk in the overflow of God’s grace, you must live with an open hand and an open heart.

Because the truth of Proverbs 11:25 is this:

A giving life is a flourishing life.

A generous heart is a refreshed heart.

A Christlike servant is a blessed servant.

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT): “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

This is not motivational sentiment.

This is God’s Word—God’s wisdom—God’s character revealed.

And like every verse in Scripture… it points us to Jesus.

1. CONTEXT: GENEROSITY AS GOD’S WISDOM IN ACTION

The book of Proverbs often contrasts two paths:

the way of the righteous

the way of the wicked

Proverbs 11 focuses on what righteous, God-fearing people look like:

They speak truthfully

They walk humbly

They deal honestly

They trust the Lord

And—they live generously

Generosity is not a side-issue in Scripture.

It is a marker of the heart.

It reveals trust.

It reveals faith.

It reveals spiritual maturity.

The early church expressed this so beautifully that Acts 2 says:

“They shared everything they had.” (NLT)

Why?

Because when you know the generosity of God, you cannot be tight-fisted with His blessings.

2. WHAT DOES PROVERBS 11:25 REALLY MEAN?

“The generous will prosper…”

The Hebrew word for generous here is ???????? (berakah)—meaning a person who carries blessing, one who bestows favour, one whose life becomes a conduit of grace.

It is not merely giving possessions—it is giving oneself.

And prosper (Hebrew: ??????? — dashen) means to be enriched, to grow fat, to flourish, to thrive, to overflow.

This is not a prosperity gospel—it is a generosity gospel.

God is saying:

A stingy soul shrivels.

A generous soul expands.

A self-focused life dries up.

A Christ-centred, others-focused life overflows.

“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

The word refresh (Hebrew: ????? — ravah) means:

to water thoroughly

to drench

to satisfy

to restore to life

It evokes the picture of dry desert soil being transformed by rain.

God is teaching a profound spiritual principle:

When you pour into others, I will pour into you.

This is not karma.

This is covenant.

This is how God delights to work in His children.

He fills those who pour out.

He blesses those who bless.

He refreshes those who refresh.

3. JESUS: THE ULTIMATE FULFILMENT OF PROVERBS 11:25

Every Proverb finds its deepest meaning in Christ.

Jesus was the Most Generous Person Who Ever Lived

He gave:

His time to the broken.

His compassion to the rejected.

His strength to the weary.

His teaching to the lost.

His mercy to the sinner.

His life for the world.

Paul says: “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

Jesus refreshed the world by His cross.

He poured Himself out fully—body, blood, breath.

And the Father exalted Him, raised Him, and refreshed Him with resurrection life.

This is Proverbs 11:25 in action:

He refreshed others, and He was refreshed.

4. THE GOSPEL CALL: YOU CANNOT REFRESH OTHERS UNTIL YOU ARE REFRESHED BY CHRIST

Before you can give spiritual water, you must drink from the Living Water.

Before you can overflow with grace, you must receive grace.

Before you can bless others, you must be blessed by the saving power of Jesus.

Jesus said: “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!” — John 7:38 (NLT)

If you have never repented of your sin, surrendered your life to Jesus, and received His saving grace—your soul is dry, your heart is empty, and your spirit cannot overflow.

But Christ offers forgiveness.

Christ offers refreshment.

Christ offers eternal life.

You cannot refresh others until Jesus refreshes you.

Today, if you are thirsty—come to Him.

If you are weary—come to Him.

If you are sinful—come to Him.

If you are broken—come to Him.

He will refresh your soul.

5. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: HOW TO REFRESH OTHERS DAILY

Let’s bring this home.

God calls us to be fountains of refreshment in a dry world.